HAL’s UH-M program is approaching its first major flight milestone, with the prototype of the indigenous naval utility helicopter expected to fly around November. The twin-engine aircraft was conceived specifically for operations from warships and is intended to provide a successor to the Navy’s ageing Chetak helicopters. The Ministry of Defence’s RFI calls for 76 naval utility helicopters, including 51 for the Navy and 25 for the Coast Guard. The UH-M incorporates features suited to maritime operations such as folding rotor blades, improved engine performance and enhanced flight controls. Its adaptable cabin can be configured for troop movement, logistics, casualty evacuation, search-and-rescue and humanitarian missions. The platform is being developed with shipboard restrictions in mind, including limited deck and hangar space, harsh sea conditions and strong winds. HAL is also working on the single-engine LUH, which is intended to replace ageing Cheetah and Chetak fleets in the Army and Air Force. Certification is targeted for December, followed by an initial delivery of 12 aircraft divided equally between the two services. However, flight-control software and auto-rotation performance still require further testing. The services could eventually require around 200 LUHs, while HAL is also considering civil certification to open additional applications for the helicopter.
